Interesting topics on the agenda

GUEST speaker at the Caloundra Family History Research group's November meeting this Thursday, November 17, will be Paul Sutton.

A Sunshine Coast resident, Paul's military topic will be "From Casualty to Hospital - A Soldier's Journey".

His presentation will start at 1.30pm, and visitors are welcome to attend. A visitor's fee of $5 allows members of the public to attend the resource centre to hear speakers at general meetings, or to research their family. Further details are available from Roz (54931197) or on the group's website. The secretary can be contacted on caloundrafamilyres@y7mail.com and visitors can attend in person at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club, gate 2, Pierce Ave, Little Mountain.

On November 9, Bill Kitson visited the resource centre to give a mapping demonstration. Both hinterland and coastal members attended and learnt about topographic, cadastral and thematic maps. Now retired, Bill's 45-year career in surveying and as the esteemed founder/curator of the Queensland Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying means he is highly qualified in the field.

He explained that mapping started in what is now Queensland, in 1839, using the system from England, describing "runs" in the "feature" surveys. This system continued until 1862 when the Torrens system, which is used today, came into being and "runs" were cut up into freehold land. Caloundra Family History Research Inc has more than 700 maps available for research.